Page 88 of Fix Them Up
‘Go on then. Name your price.’ Liam smirked.
My eyes widened. I could feel my face turning red as Antony and Liam stared at me expectantly. This felt like too much pressure.
‘Er –’ I stuttered.
Liam’s palm came to my back, touching gently.
Go on, it seemed to say,you can do it.
‘I could pay you two hundred.’
Antony scoffed. ‘Are you trying to swindle me, Kat? You know this is a completely unique sideboard. I sanded it down and refinished it myself. It took me hours. You won’t find one in better nick.’
‘Oh –’ I was about to take back my offer, but Liam’s hand came around my waist and squeezed as Antony exhaled noisily.
‘Wait,’ Liam murmured in my ear.
Antony clapped his palms together. ‘I can do three hundred. But no lower.’
I turned to Liam and grinned. He squeezed my waist again and winked down at me. I turned back to Antony, determined.
‘Two-fifty,’ I said back, trying to be as steely as possible.
‘You’re robbing me,’ Antony said, glancing up at the ceiling like he was praying. ‘Two hundred and seventy-five. Final offer.’
I glanced at Liam, who was silently laughing beside me. I turned back to Antony, nodding.
‘Deal.’ I held my hand to Antony like I’d seen businessmen do onDragons’ Den. Antony accepted my hand and shook it.
‘I was swindled, but it’s a deal. Liam, get your girlfriend out of here before she repossesses my house too.’
‘Yes, sir,’ Liam said, smiling down at me. Pride shone on his face.
I beamed back. For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel like a fuck up. I didn’t feel like I was one decision away from ruining my life or someone else’s. I felt strong and capable. I felt motivated and driven. And as we lifted the sideboard into Liam’s van, under his warm gaze, I felt like I could do anything.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Liam’s To-Do List
Buy Kat a new to-do list
Buy Kat some ADHD-friendly snacks
Plan a date with Kat
Convince Kat to stay
Get a life
The makers market was hosted every last Saturday of the month. Everly Heath High Street was cordoned off and pedestrianised for the privilege, and I could see why.
It wasrammed.
I had no idea this many people lived here. The whole street was a sea of bodies shuffling through slowly, pushing through lines of people queuing for coffee and pastries. A huge brass band was performing at the front of the social club, their gold instruments shining in the spring sun. Children were running and playing with their friends, flitting between the legs of passersby. Thirty stalls sold everything from homemade sausage rolls to handmade children’s clothes. And despite how busy it was, everyone was so… cheery. Chatty. There were no impatient huffs as people pushed through. No one was trying to speed walk through the crowds on their phone.
People said ‘sorry’ and ‘excuse me’ politely as they moved through the crowds languidly.
It was jarring.
